Molecular Detection and Analysis of DNA, RNA, and Proteins

All flashcards

How do Southern and northern blots differ?

Southern blots detect specific DNA fragments; northern blots detect RNA, often mRNA.

What can a microarray reveal?

It compares hybridization patterns across many known sequences, often to assess gene-expression differences.

What property primarily determines migration in SDS-PAGE?

Protein size, because SDS masks much of the proteins’ native charge differences.

What does qPCR estimate?

It uses fluorescence during amplification to estimate the starting amount of target DNA.

Why is Taq DNA polymerase useful in PCR?

It tolerates the high temperatures used during PCR denaturation.

Quiz questions

1. What feature allows a DNA probe to recognize a particular target sequence?Answer: Its sequence is complementary to the target sequence.
2. In agarose gel electrophoresis, toward which electrode does DNA migrate?Answer: The positive electrode, because DNA has a negatively charged backbone.
3. How can a DNA sequence change alter an RFLP banding pattern?Answer: It can alter a restriction site, changing the lengths of the resulting fragments.
4. What is the role of primers in PCR?Answer: They bind to flanking sequences and provide ends for DNA polymerase to extend.
5. What distinguishes next-generation sequencing from a single-fragment sequencing approach?Answer: It sequences many DNA fragments in parallel and uses computational analysis.